Click on a topic below for quick reference or scroll down for complete
information:
School overview: background, philosophy, and
atmosphere
Why study in Guanajuato?
Calendar and teacher training courses Academia
Falcon offers
Course Description
Finding your first ESL/EFL teaching position
School Life
Accommodations
Costs,
Special Discount of 30% to
celebrate our 20th Anniversary
Request
Information
Registration
School Overview: background, philosophy, and
atmosphere
Academia Falcon has
everything you need for a successful study-abroad program. Founded in 1988
by Jorge Barroso, who is a former university language teacher, it is the oldest
and finest language school in Guanajuato and has established an
international reputation. With almost 20 years of experience in Spanish and English
instruction, the organization has developed proven and successful teaching methods. The
school has trained over 145 Spanish teachers and is now offering
courses for becoming an effective English
teacher. By offering services to both
Mexicans and foreigners, the school makes a contribution to the global
community. Students are exposed to a diverse range of cultures and attitudes, a mosaic of
humanity, which promotes cultural understanding. The success of the school
in its endeavors can be seen in the number of satisfied language students
who return year after year. Academia Falcon has a dedicated and supportive
administrative staff, always willing to help out any visitor; and this team is eager to welcome you to our friendly,
familylife
atmosphere. Providing a beautiful learning environment, the facilities
include gardens, mini-golf, a children’s play area, an open-air
cafeteria, an Internet cafe with Wi-Fi, a library, and tranquil spots to
study or relax in between classes. Click on
photo tour
to get an idea of how beautiful the school is!
Why
study in Guanajuato?
Academia Falcon is
located in one of the most picturesque cities in Mexico.
The climate is springlike year round with warm days and cool nights and showers only in the summer months. Guanajuato is a small, safe, and
friendly city located just a few hours north of Mexico City. It is one of
Mexico´s silver cities, and in 1988 UNESCO declared the city and surrounding
mines a "World Heritage Site". Clean and beautifully preserved, the city is
full of architectural treasures such as fine townhouses, beautiful
haciendas, and romantic plazas. It has a unique colonial character with its many narrow
winding alleyways, flowered balconies, and system of underground tunnels.
There is always something going on here: street parades, music in the
plazas, religious fiestas, and cultural events. There
are many different museums and several theaters. The city is located in a
valley and is surrounded by stunning mountains which are accessible all
year round. It is possible to fly to Leon/Bajio Airport, about 35
minutes from Guanajuato, from several US cities. (We can help you with transportation to your
accommodations if we are notified a least 3 days in advanced.) The school is situated on one of the most
beautiful avenues in Guanajuato, lined with historic buildings, trees, and parks
and next to a reservoir. It is a peaceful and elegant neighborhood called
"La Presa”, and it is just 10 minutes from downtown. Click on
city tour
to catch some glimpses of this charming town!
Calendar and teacher training courses Academia Falcon offers
The school offers a
four-week, intensive TESOL
certification course
in order to become an English teacher. (There is also a
variation--Flexi-course--which consists of
two weeks of home study followed by two weeks of
practical training at the school.) You can choose
from any of the following course dates:
2008--
Tuesday September
2nd - Sept 30th
|
This TESOL certification is
in affiliation with the accredited, internationally recognized
organization INTESOL INTERNATIONAL TESOL TRAINING. Click on
www.intesoltesoltraining.com
to learn more about INTESOL.
The course is taught in
groups of no more than 10 students. All textbooks and course materials
for the classes are available at the
school. Click on Courses
to find out what other useful and fun classes are
available at the Academia Falcon.
Academia Falcon welcomes your
interest in our teacher training program. We offer two
course plans: our Complete Four Week Course (150 hours of
instruction) and our Flexi-Course, which combines two weeks
of home study with two weeks of classroom instruction (75
hours of instruction). Both are offered every month.
|
The complete four-week
course is the ideal learning situation to get you
started on the right foot. Once you know your
English grammar, daily classes will deal with
different methodologies, which will present
students with grammatical exercises that can be used
in the classroom setting.
In order to make the
teaching and learning of English grammar a more
enjoyable experience for everyone, we will include
group dynamics to drill on varied aspects of the
language at different levels.
During the
second week, students will start to take a look at
teaching materials, and will consider different
approaches to presenting grammatical information
at different levels of instruction. Students will
also learn to write up a lesson plan, as well as
games and communicative teaching dynamics in
TESOL.
By the third week,
students will have made enough progress in the
lingustics, teaching, methodology and didactics of
TESOL that they will be expected to teach short
lessons where they can apply the knowledge that they
have acquired. . Feedback from the teacher- trainer
and classmates will be an importantpart of the
lesson at this level.
By the fourth week,
students will be expected to have a solid knowledge
of English grammar, write up well-organized lesson
plans and give longer, more enjoyable lessons to the
group. The teacher-trainer’s feedback and final
group discussions on TESOL teaching practices will
close the course’s final days.
Academia Falcon offers
courses for Mexicans learning English; group classes
start in August and January. We also teach intensive
courses for 2 or 3 people throughout the year during
the year. |
|
Finding your first ESL/EFL teaching
position
Academia Falcon has an English Department, which teaches
EFL to local Mexican students and we would encourage this TESOL program's graduates
to consider our school as their potential, first real-life ESL/EFL
teaching experience! Students can then move on
to teach at one of the many language
schools across Mexico. There many opportunities for teaching English in
Mexico. With its proximity to the U.S, it is becoming more and more
essential for citizens to speak English, most university students across the
country are required to take English classes in order to graduate. The
school can provide help and advice with finding a teaching position.
School life
In addition to your studies,
it is possible to spend some time experiencing Mexico. Every day there is
something going on in the school, the full schedule of activities includes:
Spanish language movies, parties at the school or at various venues in town,
lectures, games, and language exchanges with Mexican students who are
learning English. Educational field trips are also organized to visit
places such as: museums and other attractions in town
in order to learn about the history and legends of Guanajuato; San Miguel de Allende to shop for local crafts, eat great
food, and visit a natural hot springs; the gorgeous Santa Rosa Mountains
to hike, visit a volcano, and see ancient petroglyphs; or Leon to attend soccer games and shop for shoes and
leather goods.
Accommodations
There
are many accommodation options depending on students´ needs.
The school can arrange a home stay with a Mexican host family.
If you enjoy being more independent, there is also the possibility of staying at the school itself. The new classroom and
dormitory building has stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Rooms (single or double, with private or shared
bath) are clean, comfortable, and spacious. Laundry facilities are available.
The school also has
many apartments located close by for short- or long-term rental.
The school recommends, however, that students taking the TESOL course stay
in the school´s dormitory. (The
course is very intensive;living on site will save a great deal of travel
time, and you can also spend time with fellow course participants to
share ideas and help each other.) For more information and prices
about accommodation options, click on
Accommodations.
Costs
The costs (in US dollars) for TESOL certification program at
the Academia Falcon are as follows:
Complete 4-week course =
Instead $1717, you pay only $1,202 (you save $515)
Plus 2
weeks of a free course in Spanish. Except in June and July.
Flexi-course (2 weeks of
home study and two weeks in class) = Instead $1313 you
pay only $919 (you save $394)
Books and
materials = $168
Therefore the amount payable as a deposit by
the 4 week students is £115 and the amount payable as a deposit by the
flexible students is £175 (notice is GBP)
ONCE YOU ARE READY TO SIGN
UP, You will make a deposit to secure a place in the course, first you will
filll out the registration form
and choose the 2 or 4 week course and then we
will send the card terminal details for you to pay
the amount mentioned above
depending if you chose the flexi course or the 4 week course.
= The balance is to be paid in cash upon arrival.
For more information and prices about accommodation options, click on
Accommodations.
Course dates can be changed within a twelve-month period with no penalty.
What If I
recommend a friend? You and
your friend will get a 35% discount
on the TESOL program.
Plus you will get
2 weeks of free Spanish
course.
Except in June and July.
In case you don't
have the time to
take the 2 weeks, you may pass them on to a
friend
who will only pay a
registration fee of $100 US.
Except in June and July.
About our TESOL Program click to
Request information and complete the form (If the above link does not
work, please contact us at tesolfalcon@hotmail.com.)
Registration
To register for a place in
the TESOL certification course, click on the link and complete the form.
Registration form
(If the above link does not
work, please contact us at tesolfalcon@hotmail.com.)
|
